Gina Johnson
Islam has a long tradition of pragmatism with respect to sex education, with sex being openly discussed as long as the topics are Islamically permissible. Sexual intercourse is prohibited during menstruation, for 40 days after childbirth, during the daylight hours of Ramadan, and on pilgrimage. Nocturnal emissions are not considered a sin in Islam, and sex while sleeping is not considered igniting. However, it is frowned upon for a person in a state of major impurity, such as junub, to sleep without performing ablution or ghusl first.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sexual intercourse during sleep | Not addressed in sources |
| Sexual intercourse during menstruation | Prohibited |
| Sexual intercourse after childbirth | Prohibited for 40 days |
| Sexual intercourse during daylight hours of Ramadan | Prohibited |
| Sexual intercourse during pilgrimage | Prohibited |
| Sexual intercourse during fasting | Prohibited |
| Sexual intercourse with multiple partners | Muslim men can be married to multiple women |
| Sexual intercourse with same-sex partners | Prohibited |
| Sexual intercourse with non-Muslim women | Prohibited |
| Contraceptive use | Permitted |
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What You'll Learn
Sex education in Islam
Islam has a long tradition of pragmatism with respect to sex education. Sex is readily discussed and not considered a taboo as long as the topics under discussion are Islamically permissible. According to Abdullah Nasih Ulvan, sex education is ideally introduced at the onset of puberty, and children are expected to be taught the signs of this as well as the characteristics that distinguish men from women. Islamic tradition also encourages that sexual education be entwined with morality, explaining Islamic rules involving covering intimate parts of the body, 'awrah, and the Islamic positions on modesty, chastity, and avoiding promiscuity.
Islamic sex education should be taught at home starting at an early age. Before giving education about anatomy and physiology, the belief in the Creator should be well established. A hadith attributed to Muhammad's wife Aisha states that the Ansar women were not shy about asking questions regarding sexual matters as long as they were halal. From as early as the 14th century, entire manuscripts devoted to Islamic sexual education were being written in Arabic in Baghdad. The Perfumed Garden of Sensual Delight is a fifteenth-century Arabic Islamic sex manual and work of erotic literature by Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Nefzawi. The book presents opinions on what qualities men and women should have, gives advice on sexual technique, warnings about sexual health, and remedies for sexual maladies.
Islamic sex education is a form of imparting religious knowledge to young men and women, making them aware of what is required of them in matters of deen and dunya. It is not allowed under any pretext to use such sex education to sanction adultery or moral deviation. Parents should help their sons and daughters in selecting their mates using Islamic practice as a criterion, not race, colour, or wealth. They should encourage them to know each other in a supervised setting. The community organisation has several roles to play, such as providing a platform for boys and girls to interact without any intimacy and offering premarital educational courses separately to prepare them for their future roles.
In Islam, there is no fixed rule regarding the age of marriage. It is becoming fashionable for young Muslim men to delay marriage until they have completed their education, have a job, or reached a more mature age. Similarly, young Muslim girls express a desire to marry later, stating that they are "not ready". The Quran advises those who cannot find the means for marriage to "keep themselves chaste till God finds them the means from His Grace". The Prophet also said that those who can afford to marry should do so, and those who cannot should "keep fasting for it curbs desires".
Sexual intercourse is prohibited during menstruation, for forty days after childbirth, during the daylight hours of Ramadan, and on pilgrimage.
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Sexual intercourse during menstruation
Islam prohibits sexual intercourse during menstruation. The Quran states:
> "Keep aloof from women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean; then when they have cleansed themselves, go in to them as Allah has commanded you." (Quran 2:222)
This verse is interpreted as a clear instruction for Muslims to refrain from sexual intercourse during menstruation. The Quran further describes menstruation as "adha" or "a harmful thing", indicating that intercourse during this time is prohibited.
The prohibition of sexual intercourse during menstruation is not unique to Islam. Other religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, also have similar restrictions. For example, in the Old Testament, a woman during menstruation and a man who has sexual relations with a menstruating woman are considered "unclean".
Islamic scholars interpret the Quranic instruction as a means to protect both the man and the woman from harm. Dr. al-Bar explains that a woman's temperature, pulse, and blood pressure drop during menstruation, causing dizziness, exhaustion, and lethargy. Additionally, the act of intercourse during this time may cause infections in the man's reproductive system, which could lead to sterility.
While vaginal intercourse is prohibited during menstruation, Islamic sources allow for other forms of physical intimacy between a husband and wife during this time. It is permissible for a husband to be intimate with his wife without intercourse, including kissing, embracing, and touching above the navel and below the knee. However, there are differing opinions among scholars regarding intimacy in the area between the navel and the knee, excluding the front or back passage.
It is important to note that the discussion of sexual matters within Islam is not considered taboo as long as the topics are Islamically permissible. Islamic tradition encourages intertwining sexual education with morality, emphasizing modesty, chastity, and avoiding promiscuity.
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Abstinence from sex during Ramadan
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, during which able-bodied adults fast and abstain from sexual activity from dawn to sunset. This period of abstinence is considered a form of discipline that allows one to focus on their spiritual self rather than the physical. The Prophet Mohammed is quoted as saying that Allah considers fasting to be a private act of worship between oneself and the divine.
The month of Ramadan is not meant to be merely a restriction on daily acts for a prescribed period but rather a springboard for a stronger physical, mental, and spiritual life for the year to come. By experiencing life without certain indulgences, one can develop a deeper appreciation for them.
Islamic tradition encourages that sexual education be entwined with morality, explaining Islamic rules involving the covering of intimate parts of the body, modesty, chastity, and avoiding promiscuity. The Quran and the Hadiths allow Muslim men to have sexual intercourse only with Muslim women in marriage and "what the right hand owns," which historically permitted extramarital sex with concubines and sex slaves. Sexual intercourse is prohibited during menstruation, for 40 days after childbirth, during the daylight hours of Ramadan, and on pilgrimage.
While abstinence from sex during Ramadan can have an impact on the sexual life of those participating, it is not necessarily a negative one. Some believe that abstaining from sex during this period can improve one's sex life with their spouse by fostering a deeper appreciation for physical intimacy.
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Polygyny in Islam
Polygyny, where one man is married to several women, is permitted in Islam. Sunni and Shia Islamic marital jurisprudence allows Muslim men to be married to up to four women at a time. The most commonly referred verse related to polygamy is verse 3 of Surah 4 An-Nisa (Women), which states:
> If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
This verse is believed to have been revealed after the Battle of Uhud, which left many widows and orphans. Thus, the verse is argued to be a result of Allah's concern for the welfare of women and orphans who had lost their husbands and fathers.
However, there are conditions that men must meet before polygyny is considered acceptable. Firstly, he must be physically capable of having multiple wives, and secondly, he must treat his wives justly. Some scholars argue that there is a third condition: the presence of a strong legal reason for entering an additional marriage. For example, a wife may be barren, unable to meet her husband's needs, or he may desire children, which is considered a legitimate wish.
Despite the permissibility of polygyny, there is a significant segment of Islamic scholarship that encourages men to refrain from having multiple wives unless they can ensure complete equality among them. Additionally, some contemporary scholars, such as Sheikh Muhammed Abdo and Muhammed Rashid Redha, argue that the basic principle in marital happiness and religious life is that a man should ideally have only one wife.
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Homosexual intercourse in Islam
Islam has a rich history of pragmatism and diversity when it comes to sexuality and gender. While acts of homosexual intercourse are generally prohibited in Islam, the interpretation of homosexuality in Islamic texts is complex and has evolved over time.
The Quran, the primary source of Islamic teachings, does not explicitly mention homosexuality or use terms such as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Instead, scholars have used the phrase "al-shudhudh al-jinsi," which translates to "sexually rare or unusual." The Quranic story of Lut, or Lot, is often cited in discussions on homosexuality. Lut's people were destroyed for their "lewdness," which some scholars interpret as attempted sodomy or anal intercourse between men. However, others argue that the destruction was due to a broader range of sins, including sexual violence, inhospitality, and rejecting Lut's prophethood.
The medieval Islamic concept of homoerotic relationships differed from the modern understanding of homosexuality. Classical Islamic texts suggest that it was expected for mature men to be attracted to both women and adolescent boys. Men were expected to play an active role in homosexual intercourse, while seeking to play a passive role was considered shameful. This view was influenced by the traditions of classical Greece and ancient Rome, where pederasty was practised.
In the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire's Tanzimat reforms effectively decriminalized homosexuality. However, European influence during this period led to increasing censorship and homophobia in Islamic societies. The British Empire's Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, criminalizing "carnal intercourse against the order of nature," contributed to the fading of Muslim homoerotic culture in India and the spread of homophobic statutes in former British colonies.
Today, there is a diverse range of perspectives on homosexuality within Islam. Some Muslims hold that being Muslim and homosexual are mutually exclusive, while others advocate for a more inclusive interpretation. Progressive Muslim scholars argue that the Quran acknowledges sexual and gender diversity and that common punishments for homosexuality in Islamic countries lack a basis in the Quran or the Sunnah, the record of the life of Prophet Muhammad. They emphasize that the Quran mentions "men who are not in need of women," suggesting an acknowledgment of non-heterosexual identities. Additionally, the Prophet Muhammad accepted individuals called "mukhanath," who may have been transgender or gay men considered "like women" due to their sexual orientation.
Some Islamic scholars have compared homosexuality to cis-heterosexual adultery, arguing that if this analogy is accepted, then same-sex marriage should be recognized to prevent homosexual individuals from being sinners. This perspective aligns with the Quran's emphasis on justice, equality, and liberation. Other scholars, like Ibn Taymiyyah, have suggested that rulings causing more harm than good should be reconsidered, indicating a need to reevaluate the understanding of marriage in Islam.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no specific prohibition in Islam against having sex while sleeping. However, Muslims are only permitted to have sexual intercourse with Muslim women in marriage.
Sexual intercourse is prohibited during menstruation, for 40 days after childbirth, during the daylight hours of Ramadan, and on pilgrimage.
There is no specific punishment mentioned for having sex while sleeping. However, Muslims are expected to repent for their sins and seek forgiveness.
If a Muslim wakes up after having sex in their sleep, they are considered ritually impure and must perform Ghusl (a full body purification ritual) before praying again.
